Crutch.



No. 725,612. PATENTED APR. 14, 1903. G. 0. GALENTINE.

ORUTGH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1902.

NO MODEL.

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE o. OALENTINE, or TACOMA, WASHINGTON, AssIeNoRoF ONE-HALF TO JOHN G. .DONNELLY, or TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

C RU TC H.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 725,612, dated April 14, 1903.

' Application filed .Tune 18, 1902. SerialNo.112,209. (No model.) I

To all whom) it may concern.-

Be it known that'I, GEORGE O. CALENTINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Orutch, of which the following is a specification.

This improvement relates to crutches em-' ployed by cripples and'invalids, and has for its object the production of an implement which is capable of adjustment both as to the total length ofthe crutch and also as to the position of the hand-grip, whereby the crutch maybe adjusted to any-sized person.

Another object of the invention is to produce an implement simple in construction and combining lightness with strength, durability, and readiness of adjustment and small" expense. I

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction,as hereinafter shown and described, and specified in the claims.

In the drawings illustrative of theinvention, Figure 1 is a side view of the device as light as may be consistent with the requisite strength. The upper portion consists of spaced side members 10 11, connected at their upper ends by the shoulder-rest 12 and united at their lower ends to spaced guide members 13 14, the latter closer together than the side members 10 11, as shown. The side members 10 11 are united firmly to the side members 13 14:, preferably by the coupling portions 15 16, which are fastened by means of bolts or screws 15 16, and they are further secured by metal clips 17. The side I members 13 14 will be further secured by similar metal clips 18 19, suitably distributed throughout their lengths, as shown. These Fig.

clips 17 18 19.will be arranged in opposite pairs and attached to opposite sides of the members 13 14,.as by rivets or screws, as indicated, passing through the clips and the members 13 14.. By this means all the stationary members of the device. are firmly secured together and suitably braced and supported and adapted to withstand the severe strains to which these implements will be subjected.

Slidably secured between the. members 10 11 is an adjustable hand-grip formed of a central stock 20, longitudinally perforated and adapted to receive a transverse bar 21, the latter provided at one end with a clip 22,

embracing one of the members 10 or 11, as.

f it will be noted, the handgrip 20 is free to slide vertically upon the members 10 11, but cannot be removed therefrom unless the shoulder-rest 12 be removed.

Tapped through the outside of the-clip 23 is a clam p-screw 25 and havinga milled finger wheel 26 on its outer end and engaging a disk 27 by its inner end, the latter adapted to be compressed by thescrew against the outer face of the adjacent member 10 or 11, as the case may be" Attached to the inner face of the outer side of the clip 23 isa disk 28, concentric with the aperture for the screw 25, and the disk 27 is provided with a flange 29,embracing this disk, so that the disk 28 serves as a guide to retain the disk 27 in place. By this simple means a grippingmeans is provided, by which the members 10 11 is greatly decreased. By this simple means also the grip 20 may be secured in position by the exercise of much-less force upon the screw'25, so that a materialreduction in the strains upon the parts is thereby secured; I

The spaced members 13 14 form guides between which the movable leg member-3O slides vertically.

Theinner surfaces are provided with vertical grooves,(indicated at 31 32,) and transversely inserted through the upper end of the leg member is a pin 33, projecting by it's ends into the'grooves 31 .32, whereby the latter form guides for the leg" 30, as will be readily understood. By this arrangement the leg member 30 is guided and supported by the coaction of the 'pin' and grooves 31 '32 and by the clip plates 18 19.

Inserted into one of the side members 13 or 14, as the case may be, preferably opposite the lower clip-plates 19, is a stud 34:, having an enlarged internal head 35 and internally screw-threaded to afford means for the reception of a clamp-screw3t.

Between the enlarged end 35 and the leg member 30 is a wear-disk 37, with which the inner end of the clamp-screw 36 engages and by which the pressure is imparted to the leg member, and thereby distributed over a larger surface, so that not only is the friction surface and the strength of the grip increased, but the wear upon the leg member is greatly decreased. By this. simple grip mechanism it will be readily understood the leg member may be adjusted longitudinally between the side members 13 14 and firmly gripped at any desired point to adapt the crutch to the height of the user."

The tip of the crutch may be provided with any of the usual spurs, cushions, or other attachments usually employed upon crutches.

The members 10 11 and-1314 may be of any suitablesize or material to insure the requisite strength, while at the same time being made as light as possible consistent withthe severe strains to which they will be subjected.

The shoulder-rest may be attached in any suitable manner by clips or screws, while the coupling between the upper and lower sections, as at 15 and 16, will be properly se.

curedby bolts or screws 15' 16' to enable them to Withstand the strains to which they will be subjected.

The implement may bevaried-in constructionto suit the varying conditions andtastes of the user and may be ornamented and finished in any fanciful design or color, and the parts may be modified in minor particulars without departing from the principle of ,the invention or sacrificing any of its advan-l tafies.

Having thus I claim is- 1. A crutch comprising an upper section formed of parallel spaced side members and carrying a shoulder-support, a lower section formed of contracted parallel spaced side described my invention, what of the members 13 14 members, coupling means betweenthe adjacent endsof saidsections', transverse clips connecting said lower-sectionmembers, a leg slidablydisposed' between said lower-section members and supported laterally by said clips, and clamping-meansbetween said leg membersand said lower-section members, whereby said legmembers may be adjustably supported between said lower-section members, substantially as described.

2...A crutch comprisingan upper section having a shoulder-supportand thelower section formed of spaced longitudinal members having longitudinal guideways initheir adjacent faces, a leg member having transverse projections for movably engaging said guideways, means for retaining said leg member laterally in position with relation to said spaced members, andclamping means adapted to adjustably support said leg member in longitudinal relations to said spaced members, substantially as described. I I

A crutchcom'prising annpper section having a shoulder-support and the lower section formed of spaced-longitudinal members having longitudinal guideways in their adja-' cent faces, a leg member .movably engaging said spaced members and with transverse projections engaging said guideways, oppositely-dis posed transverse clipsen gaging said spaced members andinolosing said leg memsaid leg member to said spaced members,substantially as described. 7

' 4. A crutchcomprising an upper section having a shoulder-support anda lower section formed of spaced longitudinal members transversely con nected, a leg member movably engaging said spaced members, an internallythreaded stud with'a'n enlarged inner end and engaging a recess in the interior of one of said spacedmembers, a clamp-screw engaging said stud, and a wearsplate within said recess and between said clamp-screw. and said leg member, substantially as described.

5. .A crutch comprising anupper' section formed of spaced side. members and carrying the shoulder-support upon their upper ends and united into aleg member at their lower ends, a transverse barfhaving a fixed clip upon 'oneend engaging one of said spaced 'members'and a movable clip upon the other end engaging the other of said spaced members, a hand-grip member upon said bar between said spaced side members, and a clampscrew tapped through said movable clip and adapted to be forcibly engaged with the adjacent side member, whereby said hand-grip is adjustably connected to said spaced side members, substantially as described.

6. A. crutch comprising an upper section formed of spaced side members carrying a shoulder-support upon their upper ends and united into a leg member at their lower ends,

a transversebar having a fixed clip upon one end engaging one of said spaced members and a movable clip upon the otherend'engaging her, and means for adjustably connecting ICOV the other'of said spaced members, a handgrip member upon said bar between said spaced side members, a clamp-screw tapped through said movable clip, a guide plate upon said movable clip concentric with said clamp-screw, and a wear-plate having a flange engaging said guide-plate and adapted to-be and longitudinal guideways formed in the opposite walls of said opening, a leg member provided with transverse projections for slidably engagingsaid guideways, and means for adjustably connecting said leg member to said lower section.

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

G. O. OALENTINE.

Witnesses:

P. C. KAUFFMAN, F. P. HOSHELL, Jr. 

